When War Calls(8)

It was beautiful, he thought, and wondered what the rest of the world looked like. He had spent his entire life within Callibra, exploring once or twice outside the mountains, but never straying too far. He had relied mainly on his father to tell him of the other nations, sometimes hearing of incredible cities that boasted technology beyond his wildest dreams. It was always amazing to hear, as he and his people lived without many advances. The village had been created long ago to ensure this, the founding settlers believing that the more technology in a civilisation, the more distractions there would be from inner peace. And so they went about their daily routines, living off the land and using only what they needed, thinking of nothing more and being content as they were.

It was a good life, he knew that, but he was always intrigued to know how the others might have lived. It made him want to travel one day, and he knew he would, maybe just to see the world as it was. But unlike his father, he would only go once, and then he would return home. He would start a family and then he would stay with them, so that he could be there when they needed him. It was the right thing to do.

It was unfair to leave a family to fend for its self while you travelled the world, he thought harshly, his mood changing quickly. They needed time with you, to feel as though they were being taken care of and could always rely on someone. It was safe in Callibra, but there were constant battles being waged between the social clans. It would have helped to have a dominant figure around to stand up to them. But most of all, the family needed someone around so that they could understand who they were.

Jaden threw the piece of grass away in disgust of his realisation, slouching onto his right hand as he fidgeted with his left in the dirt.

His anger passed quickly. He knew deep down that he understood why his father had to go away. It was for the greater good of his people. The rivalry of social clans was petty by comparison. While they fought over land rights and political power, his father was out making sure they were safe from the wars plaguing the outer world. He sacrificed having a home so that his family could live on in peace. But he didn’t only do it for his own family. It was for everyone else’s families, too. He was protecting the ones that fought him and his clan every day.

It made Jaden laugh a little. He liked to entertain the idea of the other clans finding out just how much his father was doing for them, seeing the looks on their faces as they realised their sworn enemy was actually helping them. How much abuse would they shout then?

He smiled, concluding they wouldn’t even dare.

Life would have been so much easier if his father’s efforts were known. What Jaden couldn’t understand was the need for secrecy. He kept it only through the respect he had for his father, trusting his judgement.

For now, the arguments would have to be settled in the old fashioned way—the village’s sport tennagen.

Today was the final, his team and another fighting for this very piece of land that he was sitting upon. It was on his side of the village, it should have been for his clan by that alone, but the others had challenged the rights to it, under the claim that as the best estate in Callibra, it should be given to the strongest families. It was acceptable law in the village. The greatest families were rewarded with the rights to land and power to make decisions on how daily life would be run. It was why tennagen had been invented, to test the clans’ abilities head to head, so that the victor could be clearly seen. It was a game of cunning and wit, muscle and agility. Many were badly injured after each match, the elite the only ones to come off with little more than bruises. But all would be back on the field as soon as they could be. Such was the passion they possessed for the game itself.

Jaden stretched. The game wasn’t for another three hours. There was no need to stress yet.

He lay back in the grass, oblivious to the sky above as he became lost in thought. There was so much to ponder, so much he wanted to achieve in the coming days. His father had gone away, but his grandfather, Vennoss, would be returning. He always enjoyed talking with Vennoss during his father’s absence. Every time he and Vennoss met there was a new story to tell, a new lesson to be learned. Over the years, they had become close friends, and Jaden knew much of his ability to control his temper was to be credited to the words Vennoss had to offer. He was the wisest man he knew apart from his father, and couldn’t wait to hear what Vennoss had to say next.

Jaden relaxed further into the grass, strangely feeling able to sink deeper than usual, as if it were a soft bed of wet sand moulding around him, embracing each and every curve and corner of his body and then firmly supporting it. The crisp scent of freshly crushed grass grew stronger as he pushed his head back, and his breath became steady with its therapeutic aroma. The wind cooled as clouds blocked out the sun, and the land was blackened by shadow as he slept, but strangely he seemed more aware of the world around him than ever before. It was if he were awake, yet no longer in control of his body, frozen in time. He could feel movement around him, a force floating in wide spirals, coming in closer and then drifting out again, much like the water around a tiny island. It was almost comforting, if not a bit nauseating, as he was able to enjoy the fluid routes being taken around him.